WI: Koxinga Jr. takes the Philippines

When Koxinga drove the Dutch from Taiwan there were rumours that his ultimate design is to take over the Philippines. The Spaniards were quite alarmed as the islands were then home to significant Chinese populations who might side with him. A massacre ensued, but all was for naught because Koxinga died from malaria not long after his victory in Taiwan.

As it turned out, his son, Zheng Jing would prove to be a lethargic ruler. It is not clear whether he had any designs on the Philippines or perhaps he was constrained by other factors. In any case he himself would die middle-aged and Taiwan surrendered to the Qing soon after.

What if Spanish fears were well founded. But instead an invasion by Koxinga, it comes in the form of his son, who in OTL is a chip off the old bloc. Suppose this invasion succeeds and Spain loses its prize Asian colony. How does this effect the history of Spain, China, and East Asia?

My thinking is, although the fall of Taiwan to the Qing is a foregone conclusion. There's little chance of that fate for a Chinese ruled Philippines. The Philippines then becomes a rather interesting meeting point between Ming style Chinese culture and European trade and ideas. Assuming this state doesn't turn inward like Qing China, it could provide European merchants of the 18th-19th centuries a source of worldly Chinese merchants to break into the Chinese market. Furthermore, it would provide Qing with greater understanding of the European world and an example of an East-West hybrid state.


 
Top